Thousands across the sub-continent celebrate Buddha Purnima festival

SUMMARY

Thousands across the sub-continent celebrate Buddha Purnima festival, that marks the triple events of Gautam Buddha's life: his birth, his enlightenment and his attaining a state of Nirvana that frees believers from the circle of death and rebirth.

By APMay 19, 2019 1:08:50 PM IST (Updated)

Buddhist monks offer prayers at a temple during Buddha Purnima festival in Kolkata. The festival marks the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Buddhist monks and devotees offer prayers at a Buddhist temple during Buddha Purnima festival in Kolkata, India, Saturday, May 18, 2019. The festival marks the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Devotees offer prayers at a Buddhist temple during Buddha Purnima festival in Kolkata, India, Saturday, May 18, 2019. The festival marks the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

A couple offers prayers at a Buddhist temple during Buddha Purnima festival in Kolkata. The festival marks the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

A Sri Lankan Buddhist devotee prays at a temple on Buddha Poornima, or Vesak, in Colombo. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

An unarmed Sri Lankan army soldier secures a Buddhist temple premise as devotees gather for Buddha Poornima in Colombo. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

A Sri Lankan army soldier checks a man at the entrance to a Buddhist temple as devotees mark Buddha Poornima or Vesak in Colombo. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayaward

Nepalese Buddhist monks participate in a parade during Buddha Jayanti, or Buddha Purnima in Kathmandu. The festival marks the triple events of Gautam Buddha's life: his birth, his enlightenment and his attaining a state of Nirvana that frees believers from the circle of death and rebirth. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Nepalese devotees light incense sticks during Buddha Jayanti, or Buddha Purnima in Kathmandu. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)